• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1137-1143
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• 2014

Doxorubicin is a general chemotherapy drug widely used for a number of cancers. However, the correlation between endogenous nitric oxide ($NO^{\bullet}$) levels and chemoresistance to doxorubicin remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of endogenous $NO^{\bullet}$ on the anticancer activity of doxorubicin in human colon cancer cell lines HCT116 and HT29 with different p53 status. The cells were treated with either doxorubicin alone or in combination with the $NO^{\bullet}$ synthase (NOS) inhibitor $N^G$-monomethyl-L-arginine (NMA). Doxorubicin differentially inhibited the growth of both the HCT116 (p53-WT) and HT29 (p53-MUT) cells, which was mitigated by cotreatment with NMA. Further studies revealed that inhibition of endogenous $NO^{\bullet}$ mitigated doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in the HCT116 and HT29 cells, as evidenced by apoptotic DNA fragmentation and the sub-G1 peak of apoptotic markers. Apoptosis was delayed in the HT29 cells, and its magnitude was greatly reduced, underscoring the importance of the modulation of p53 in the response. RT-PCR analysis revealed that doxorubicin down-regulated levels of inhibitors of the apoptosis family (cellular IAP-1 and-2). Collectively, these data show that induction of apoptosis by doxorubicin in human colon cancer cells is possibly related to modulation of endogenous $NO^{\bullet}$, the expression of the IAP family of genes, and the status of p53. The underlying mechanisms may represent potential targets for adjuvant strategies to improve the efficacy of chemotherapy for colon cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.5137-5142
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• 2012

UHRF2 is a member of the ubiquitin plant homeo domain RING finger family, which has been proven to be frequently up-regulated in colorectal cancer cells and play a role as an oncogene in breast cancer cells. However, the role of UHRF2 in glioma cells remains unclear. In this study, we performed real-time quantitative PCR on 32 pathologically confirmed glioma samples (grade I, 4 cases; grade II, 11 cases; grade III, 10 cases; and grade IV, 7 cases; according to the 2007 WHO classification system) and four glioma cell lines (A172, U251, U373, and U87). The expression of UHRF2 mRNA was significantly lower in the grade III and grade IV groups compared with the noncancerous brain tissue group, whereas its expression was high in A172, U251, and U373 glioma cell lines. An in vitro assay was performed to investigate the functions of UHRF2. Using a lentivirus-based RNA interference (RNAi) approach, we down-regulated UHRF2 expression in the U251 glioma cell line. This down-regulation led to the inhibition of cell proliferation, an increase in cell apoptosis, and a change of cell cycle distribution, in which S stage cells decreased and G2/M stage cells increased. Our results suggest that UHRF2 may be closely related to tumorigenesis and the development of gliomas.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.414-419
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• 2005

The production of recombinant antibodies has been generally recognized as time-consuming and labor-intensive. The aim of our study is to construct mammalian expression vectors containing the cDNA encoding the human constant regions and murine variable regions to massively and cost-effectively produce full-length chimeric antibodies. Unique restriction sites flanking the Ig variable region were designed to allow for the replacement of variable regions generated by PCR. Western blot analysis of the chimeric antibodies revealed that the expressed products were of the predicted size, structure and specificity. The usefulness of the vectors was confirmed by construction of human-mouse chimeric antibody-HCAb which secretes murine antibody against the human colorectal cancer. Selected in medium containing gradually increasing methotrexate (MTX), clones with increased expression of the product gene can be efficiently generated. The secretion of recombinant chimeric antibody-HCAb yielded $30\;pg\;cell^{-1}\;day^{-1}$ at $10^{-6}\;M$ MTX. With this high-level expression from pools, the convenient and rapid production of over 100 milligram amounts per liter of recombinant antibodies may be achieved, which indicates the significant roles of pYR-GCEVH and pYR-GCEVL in the production of chimeric antibodies.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1787-1793
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• 2009

To investigate whether caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) could affect cancer cell viabilities and gene expression, human colorectal HCT116 cells were incubated with CAPE. CAPE decreased cancer cell viabilities and induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. To analyse differently expressed genes by CAPE, we performed oligo DNA microarray analysis. We found that 266 genes were up-regulated more than twofold, whereas 143 genes were down-regulated more than twofold by 24 hr of treatment with $20{\mu}M$ CAPE. Among the up-regulated genes, we selected 3 genes (NSAID activated gene-1 [NAG-1], cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A [CDKN1A, p21] and growth arrest and DNA-damage-inducible alpha [GADD45A]) and performed reverse-transcription PCR to confirm microarray data. In addition, we found that CAPE increased NAG-1 gene and NAG-1 protein expression in a dose-dependent manner. And, several other phytochemicals (resveratrol, genistein, daidzein and capsaicin) also could induce NAG-1 expression in human colorectal HCT116 cells. However, CAPE was the highest inducer of NAG-1, even in low concentrations. Overall, these results imply that cancer cell death by CAPE is closely related with over-expression of NAG-1.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.1007-1021
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• 2018

Cancer represents one of the most significant threats to human health on a global scale. Hence, the development of effective cancer prevention strategies, as well as the discovery of novel therapeutic agents against cancer, is urgently required. In light of this challenge, this research aimed to evaluate the effects of several potent bioactive peptides and proteins contained in crocodile white blood cell extract (cWBC) against LU-1, LNCaP, PC-3, MCF-7, and CaCo-2 cancer cell lines. The results demonstrate that 25, 50, 100, and $200{\mu}g/ml$ cWBC exhibits a strong cytotoxic effect against all investigated cell lines ($IC_{50}$ $70.34-101.0{\mu}g/ml$), while showing no signs of cytotoxicity towards noncancerous Vero and HaCaT cells. Specifically, cWBC treatment caused a significant reduction in the cancerous cells' colony forming ability. A remarkable suppression of cancerous cell migration was observed after treatment with cWBC, indicating potent antimetastatic properties. The mechanism involved in the cancer cell cytotoxicity of cWBC may be related to apoptosis induction, as evidenced by typical apoptotic morphology features. Moreover, certain cWBC concentrations induced significant overproduction of ROS and significantly inhibited the $S-G_2/M$ transition in the cancer cell. The molecular mechanisms of cWBC in apoptosis induction were to decrease Bcl-2 and XIAP expression levels and increase the expression levels of caspase-3, caspase-8, and p53. These led to a decrease in the expression level of the cell cycle-associated gene cyclin-B1 and the arrest of cell population growth. Consequently, these findings demonstrate the prospect of the use of cWBC for cancer therapy.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 2015

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate the antitumor effects of Cheongpyesagan-tang(CST) and YKK012 on colon cancer. Methods : MTT assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of Single herbs and combinations of CST and YKK012 on murine colon cancer cells, Colon 38. To explain effects of apoptosis in colon cancer, we performed the western blot. Effects of CST and YKK012 on antitumor activity of CPT-11 using the murine colon38 allograft tumor in BDF1 mice. Results : Single herbs and combinations of CST and YKK012 was tested in vitro, Rhei Radix (RH) and Scutellariae Radix (SC) and YKK012 showed dose-response cytotoxicity on Colon 38. This might be due to the apoptosis, as we see Bax and Caspase-3, which are apoptotic factors, was expressed in RH and SC treated cells. YKK012 also showed increased expression of Caspase-3. In mouse colorectal cancer xenograft model of colon38 cells, herbal combinations showed tendencies of tumor regression, but was not significant. Furthermore, because toxicity was observed in CST group, we reduced the dose of CST for the next experiment. The anti-tumor effects of herbal combinations were insufficient to be used as single anti-tumor agent. With simultaneous usage of CPT-11, contrary to that CST showed no synergistic effects, YKK012 which was composed by the combination of four $ER{\beta}$ selective herbs, significantly reduced the size of tumor and Bax expression was increased. Conclusions : We suggest YKK012 can be a effective cancer adjuvant therapy with CPT-11 on colon cancer.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.509-516
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• 2014

Radiation therapy for variety of human solid tumors utilizes mechanism of cell death after DNA damage caused by radiation. In response to DNA damage, cytochrome c was released from mitochondria by activation of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins, and then elicits massive $Ca^{2+}$ release from the ER that lead to cell death. It was also suggested that irradiation may cause the deregulation of $Ca^{2+}$ homeostasis and trigger programmed cell death and regulate death specific enzymes. Thus, in this study, we investigated how cellular $Ca^{2+}$ metabolism in RKO cells, in comparison to radiation-resistant A549 cells, was altered by gamma (${\gamma}$)-irradiation. In irradiated RKO cells, $Ca^{2+}$ influx via activation of NCX reverse mode was enhanced and a decline of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ via forward mode was accelerated. The amount of $Ca^{2+}$ released from the ER in RKO cells by the activation of $IP_3$ receptor was also enhanced by irradiation. An increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ via SOCI was enhanced in irradiated RKO cells, while that in A549 cells was depressed. These results suggest that ${\gamma}$-irradiation elicits enhancement of cellular $Ca^{2+}$ metabolism in radiation-sensitive RKO cells yielding programmed cell death.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.967-972
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• 2014

In the present study, we prepared eighty-five different kinds of lees extracts and their solvent fractions and investigated their anti-proliferative activities against human colorectal cancer HCT116 cells. HCT116 cells were treated with eighty-five solvent fractions of lees extracts and then cell viability was measured using MTS assay. Among the treated solvent fractions, three solvent fractions (KSD-E1-3, KSD-E2-3, and KSD-E4-3) were selected based on cell viability assay. In addition, we performed an oligo DNA microarray analysis to analyze the gene expression changes by treatment of KSD-E1-3 in HCT116 cells. Among the upregulated genes, we selected 4 genes (NAG-1, ATF3, p21, and DDIT3) and performed RT-PCR using gene-specific primers. Among the treated solvent fractions, KSD-E1-3 dramatically induced the expressions of the four selected genes. In addition, we investigated whether the upregulations of those genes were dependent on the transcription factor p53's presence using p53 null HCT116 cells. The results indicate that the upregulations of NAG-1, ATF3, and DDIT3 are not dependent on the p53 presence, whereas p21 is dependent on the p53 presence. These findings may help to understand the molecular mechanisms of the anti-proliferative activity mediated by rice wine lees in human colorectal cancer cells.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1998.06a
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• pp.270-280
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• 1998

Ginseng is one of the most widely used medicinal plants, particularly in East Asian countries. Certain fractions or purified ingredients of ginseng have been shown to exert inhibitory effects on growth of cancer cells in culture or on tumorigenesis in experimental animals. Moreover, a recent epidemiologic study reveals that ginseng intake is associated with a reduced risk for environmentally related cancers such as esophageal, gastric, colorectal, and pulmonary tumors. Heat treatment of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer at the temperature higher than that applied to the conventional preparation of red ginseng yielded a mixture of saponins with potent antioxidative properties. Thus, the methanol extract of heat-processed ginseng (designated as'NGMe') attenuated lipid peroxidation in rat brain homogenates induced by ferric ion or ferric ion plus ascorbic acid. Furthermore, the extract protected against strand scission in f Xl 74 supercoiled DNA Induced by UV photolysis of H2O2 and was also capable of scavenging superoxide generated in vitro by xanthine/xanthine oxidate or in differentiated human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells by the tumor promoter,12-0-tetvade- canoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Since tumor promotion is closely linked to oxidative stress, we have determined possible anti-tumor promotional effects of NGMe on two-stage mouse skin tumorigenesis. Topical application of NGMe onto shaven backs of female ICR mice 10 min prior to TPA significantly ameliorated skin papillomagenesi s initiated by 7,12-dimethylbenz (a) anthracene (DMBA).'Likewise, TPA-induced epidermal ornithine decarboxylase activity and elevation of tumor necrosis factor-a were suppressed signifies%fly by NGMe pretreatment. NGMe topically applied onto surface of hamster buccal pouch 10 min before each topical application of DMBA inhibited oral carcinogenesis by 76olo in terms of multiplicity. Taken together, these results suggest that processed Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer has potential cancer chemopreventive activities.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1062-1070
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• 2019

A components of garlic (Allium sativum) have anti-proliferative effects against various types of cancer. We aimed to investigate the capacity of garlic compounds to anti-tumor on a various cancer cell lines. Fractionation of garlic extract, guided by antiproliferative activity against human gastric cancer (AGS) cells, has resulted in the isolation of N-benzyl-N-methyldecan-1-amine (NBNMA). We investigated the effect of newly isolated NBNMA from garlic cloves on the inhibition of the growth of CT-26, AGS, HepG2, HCT-116, MCF7, B16F10, and Sarcoma-180 cells for in vitro and CT-26 colon carcinoma cells in vivo. NBNMA exhibited an antiproliferative effect in CT-26 cells by apoptotic cell death. NBNMA exhibited down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins and up-regulation of apoptotic Bad protein expression in western blot analyses. In addition, NBNMA meagre activated caspase 3 and caspase 9, initiator caspases of the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways of apoptosis. NBNMA treatment at a dose of 10 mg/kg for 21 days in experimental mice implanted with tumors resulted in significant reduction of the tumor weight (43%). NBNMA exhibited both in vitro and in vivo anticancer activity. These results indicate that NBNMA has promising potential to become a novel anticancer agent from garlic cloves for the treatment of colon carcinoma cancer.